Cigar bunching machine



April 25, 1933.

K. E. GRANSTEDT CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE Filed June 1952 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL ERIK GRANSTEDT, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO AKTIEBOLAGET FORMATOR, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, A JOINT-STOCK COMPANY CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE Application filed June 2, 1932. Serial No. 615,002.

The present invention relates to cigar bunching machines and more particularly to those of a known kind, where a flexible apron j is used for rolling a filler and providing it with a binder.

In such devices one end of the apron is secured to the front of a roller table, and the other end is connected with an oscillating member. This latter arrangement is provided because, in each working period, the

apron has to be slackened when a new filler is inserted and thereafter tensioned when the finished bunch has been delivered, and the roller, which in a known manner effects the rolling operation, returns to its starting po sition. Besides, the apron must, after a longer or shorter periodof use, be somewhat slackened or tightened, that is the end position of the movable member is adjusted, because the apron extends or shrinks due to external influence such as moisture, heat, dry air or by stresses.

In hitherto known rolling devices the movable member therefore has been connected with a coupling rod provided with a set screw, which for constructive reasons has been applied inside the frame of the machine. The adjustment device is then difiicult of access, and as it oscillates simultaneously with the movable member, adjustment cannot at any rate be made until the machine has been stopped, which is a serious disadvantage, be cause such adjustments have to be made often and thus a lot of working time is lost.

The present invention has for its object to provide an adjustment device for the purpose above mentioned for machines substantially of the construction described above, in which 0 the drawbacks mentioned are fully removed.

A. further object of the invention is to provide means, whereby an exact adjustment is attained and said adjustment is efiected very easily by a single operator, who can simul- 5 taneously observe the member to be adjusted,

viz. the apron.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the acompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical side elevation of part of the machine containing the device according to the invention,

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same part, but with the regulating device in another position,

Fig. 3 is an end View of a detail part of the device according to the invention, and

Fig. i is a longitudinal and partly sectional view of the same detail part.

An apron 1 is secured by means of wing nuts 2 to the front of the frame 3 ofthe machine. The other end of the apron is secured by means of other wing nuts 4 to a movable member 5 developed as a link pivoted on pins 6 in the frame 3. The apron 1 is actuated by a roller 7 to which is imparted by known means oscillatory movements between the position shown in Fig. 1 and a position at the front end of the apron. One end of a coupling rod 8 is pivotally connected with the link 5, its other end being pivotally connected with the end of an arm 9 forming part of a bell crank lever, which is rotatably journalled on a pin 10. The second arm 11 of the lever is provided with a roller 12 which is pressed against the curved periphery of a cam shaped wheel 13 by means of an helical tension spring 14 connected with said arm at 15 and with the machine frame at 16. The cam'shaped wheel 13 is fixed to a rotating shaft 17 The means for imparting rotative movement to said shaft are not shown in the drawing as they form no part of theinvention.

When the shaft 17 rotates, a swinging movement is imparted to the bellcrank lever as'the roller is actuated by the cam-shaped wheel and thus the rod 8 with the link 5 performs an oscillatory motion.

The pin 10 forms an eccentric'extension one end. of a shaft 18 j ournalled in the machine frame. The other end of said shaft projects out of the frame. A crank 19 is secured to said projection and is provided with a loosely fitted bolt 20, the outer end of which is provided with a button 21, and the inner threaded end of which carries a lock member 22 having a finger 23. The machine frame carries an angular extension 24, and the finger 23 projects between the machine frame 100 and said extension. The surface 25 of the member 22 fits closely against the outer angular surface 26 of the extension 24, so that it cannot rotate on the threaded portion of the bolt 20.

If the apron is to be tightened or slackened, the pressing action between the finger 23 and the inner surface of the extension 2% is released by turning the button 21 and thereby loosening the screw, whereupon the crank 19 is turned into a desired position which is controlled by simultaneous observation of the apron. Obviously, as the crank is turned, the position of the eccentric pin 10 is changed and then at a certain position of the cam-shaped wheel 13 the angular position of the link 5 is altered. lVhen the most suitable position of the crank has been obtained, the button is turned to lock the member 22 by means of pressing the finger 23 against the inner surface of the extension 24 and a very reliable locking is thus obtained as the lock-members are not exposed to vibrations, as is the case with the known device previously described, where the said locking devices are provided on an oscillating coupling rod. The adjustment now described is efiected very conveniently during the operation of the machine, so that it is possible to judge at once whether the best position of the crank has been obtained.

It is supposed according to Fig. 1 that the apron is tightened by turning the crank in the direction of the arrow but of course the crank may be turned in the opposite direction when tightening the apron.

I do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as they may be modified in many particular parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a cigar benching machine in combination, an apron, a movable member connected with one end of said apron, an eccentric adapted to move said member, and means for adjusting said eccentric from the outside of said machine.

2. In a cigar bunching machine in combination, an apron, a movable member connected with one end of said apron, a coupling rod connected with said member, an eccentric adapted to move said coupling rod and means for adjusting said eccentric from the outside of said machine.

3. In a cigar bunching machine in combination. an aprona movable member connected with one end of said apron, an eccentric, a lever pivotally mounted on said eccentric, means for connecting one arm of said lever with said movable member, and a cam shaped wheel adapted to operate a second arm of said lever 4. In a cigar bunching machine in combination, an apron, a movable member connected with one end of said apron, an eccentric, a lever having two arms and being pivotally mounted on said eccentric, means for adjusting said eccentric from the outside of said machine, means for connecting one arm of said lever with said movable member, and a cam shaped wheel adapted to operate the second arm of said lever.

5. In a cigar bunching machine having a frame in combination, an apron, a movable member connected with one end of said apron, a shaft rotatably mounted in the machine frame, a pin forming an eccentrical extension of said shaft, a lever having two arms and being pivotally mounted on said pin, means for connecting one arm of. said lever with said movable member and a cam shaped wheel adapted to actuate the other arm of said lever.

6. In a cigar bunching machine having a frame in combination, an apron, a movable member connected with one end of said apron, an eccentric adapted to move said member, a crank secured to said eccentric and means for securing said crank to the frame of said nnzchine in a fix-ed position.

I In a c biincnmg machine having a frame in con. ination an apron one end of which sec red to the machine in a fixed position, movable member connected with another end of said apron, a shaft having an extension and being rotatably mounted in the frame of said machine, an inwardly projecting eccentrical pin on said shaft, a ro tatable cam shaped wheel, a lover having two arms and being rotatably journalled on said pin, one of said arms having a roller connected thereto, means for connecting one arm of said lever with said movable member, means for pressing said roller of the other arm said lever against said cam shaped wheel, a crank secured to said extension of said shaft, said extension projecting out of the frame of the machine, a threaded bolt on said crank provided with a lock member, and a segmental member on the frame, the lock member being adapted to engage said segmental member.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

KARL ERIK GRANSTEDT. 

